“Their repertoire is all over the place and their genius is unmistakable.”
by Richard Newsham
Mark the date! On Sunday, March 22n at 3pm, the Ventura Music Festival will present Mnozil Brass in “Cirque” – the musical flea circus” delighting audiences worldwide. The venue is the Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center in Camarillo.
“It’s a huge pleasure to present Mnozil Brass,” said Festival CEO Susan Scott. “Audiences love them and they have legions of fans across the globe. We wanted to bring them for a long time. When this tour was announced, I think we were the first to sign on. Our first ticket-buyer was a band teacher who was ecstatic about they were coming and bought a whole row for his students.”
Exactly who are the Mnozil Brass? a septet: six trumpets, six trombones and a tuba whose music embraces a mix of folk, jazz, pop and classical, resulting in “moments of sheer silliness and some of the finest brass playing imaginable.”
According to music critic Bill Benzon: “Their repertoire is all over the place and their genius is unmistakable. They are superb musicians . . . and skilled comedic performers, who put on (an extraordinary) show. Much of what they do is deeply serious in a way that only inspired buffoonery can be.”
As to where the name came from, the group took it from the Mnozil Pub across the street from the Vienna Music Conservancy where they were students.
Tickets for this wildly entertaining and singular show range from $15 to $49, available at : https://venturamusicfestival.org/ or by calling (805) 648-3146.
Parking is plentiful and free at Rancho Campana Performing Art Center, the 700-seat state- of-the art theatre located at 4235 Mar Vista Dr., Camarillo.
Since 1994, the mission of the Ventura Music Festival is to bring world-class music to the community, foster audience-artist interactions, and enhance the joy of music with programs for all ages. VMF seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming environment in which people both see and hear themselves reflected in the music. Its 25-year record includes 300,000 festival-goers attending 200 performances, and 40,000 children served in its Music in the Schools program. For more information visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.
